BAIC B40 Plus is Chinese answer to Jeep Wrangler

BAIC is a Chinese brand that started its SA operations back in 2016 and by 2018 it began with assembly of a semi-knocked down range of cars at its Gqeberha plant.

With its limited product range and small dealer footprint it has been slow going for the brand, with less than 300 units of its D20 sedan and hatchback and X25 compact SUV sold in total thus far.

The bold-looking BAIC B40 Plus is its latest offering. With its cube-like design the vehicle has traces of a Jeep Wrangler and Hummer in some of its motifs. It has aggressively protruding wheel arches, a removable roof and it’s available in a variety of bright colours including a military green. In its pricing it compares with many but the ethos is of a larger, more practical Suzuki Jimny alternative.

STANDARD FEATURES

The interior colour-coded interior trimming has dual zone air conditioner, six-speaker audio system, chrome accents, start/ stop button, electric parking brake, reverse camera, park distance control and colourful multi-information display depending on chosen specification.

But there is a lot more to this new BAIC B40 Plus than just borrowed looks. It has a chassis built with Chinese military know-how to handle unforgiving terrain and is equipped with independent suspension with double wishbones up front and solid axle rear suspension for comfortable travelling.

A pair of four-cylinder engines and transmissions are on offer. It’s either a 2l petrol turbo with 160kW and 320Nm mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic gearbox or a 2l turbo diesel flexing 110kW and 350Nm and available only with a sixspeed manual transmission.

The petrol variant felt the superior of the pair if you take daily life into consideration, and the self-shifter also made things easier when threading the vehicle through a series of challenging off-road obstacles.

The B40 Plus comes standard with ABS brakes and some models also feature an electronic stability programme, emergency brake assist, traction control and hill ascent and descent control.

Off-road driving enthusiasts will look to the diesel with its extra torque and the manual transmission with a pleasant, clicking shift action.

The minimal overhangs combined with generous 210mm ground clearance, a selectable 4WD system with rear differential lock, 37° approach/31° departure and 23° ramp-over angles are handy tools for venturing into rough terrain. But they will be disappointed with the wheezy nature of the diesel engine, which struggled and required deft clutch work to avoid power losses mid-obstacle.

As a whole the new BAIC B40 Plus has good prospects. It offers that all-important aesthetic charm mixed with genuine off-road driving ability. The snag may be the only eight dealers available nationwide but Basil Costa, senior manager sales and marketing at BAIC SA, says work continues to set up more agents while also negotiating with existing service centres such as Bosch and Dekra to carry out servicing needs.

The B40 Plus range sells with a five-year/120,000km warranty with service plan options.

Pricing

B40 Plus Diesel — R549,500 B40 Plus Petrol — R579,500 B40 Plus City Hunter Diesel — R579,500

B40 Plus City Hunter Petrol — R609,500

B40 Plus Champion Petrol — R629,500